Nucor starts construction on $750M Louisiana plant

Nucor Corp. said it started construction this week on a $750 million iron-making plant in Louisiana.

The plant is being built in St. James Parish, just outside New Orleans.

The Charlotte-based manufacturer of steel products said it will build one plant initially, although it has been permitted for two plants with a combined production of 5.5 million tons of direct reduced iron a year.

The company also announced that Lester Hart has been named general manager of the Louisiana facility.

In January, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality awarded the project an air permit, clearing the way for Nucor to order equipment and begin construction.

The project’s first phase will create 150 permanent jobs that earn an average salary of $75,000 plus benefits, Nucor said.